Slicing machine



Aug. 22, 1933. w. J. CAMPBELL 1,923,860

SLICING MACHINE Filed sept. 21, 1929 4 shets-sheet 2 Aug* 22, 1933. w- J. CAMPBELL 1,923,860

SLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1929 4 Sheets-snee?l 3 13 v Y ,amm M $l\\\! 6 x .n A

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Auge 22, 1933. W. J. CAMPBELL wzseo SLICINGr MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @MMG/ Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE Application ASeptember 21, 1929 Serial N0. 394,292

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in slicing machines, and particularly to a slicing machine of the type in which a rotary knife is associated with a carriage from which the work is sliced. It is carried across the face and past the cutting edge of the knife.

One object is the provision of such a slicing machine, in which an electric motor is employed to actuate the knife, wherein the motor is adjustably and removably mounted upon the base of the slicing machine. Another object is the provision of a removable housing for said motor. Another object is the provision of protecting means for the wiring extending to said motor. Another object is the provision of a crumbgathering trough for the front of the frame, which may, if desired, also have a reinforcing or supporting function in connection withfthe formation of the base of the slicing machine. Another object is the provision of improved means for securing a guard plate in front of the forward face of the knife. Another object is the provision of improved means for securing guard plates and the like to the frame or base of the machine. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan View;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a partial end elevation with parts in section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail with parts in section;

Figure 7 is a bottom View of the base; and

Figure 8 illustrates a variant form of securing means.

vLike parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings. 45 Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates any suitable base or frame portion, which may be supported as upon the yielding supporting elements A1. Forwardly extending from the base portion and preferably, `though not necessarily, integral therewith is a knife-bearing housing element, generally indicated as B, which includes the bearing sleeve portion B1 and the portion B2 flaring outwardly therefrom. The element B is extended laterally toward the upwardly extending partition B3, which may be apertured as at BL for the purpose which will later appear.

Mounted for rotationv within the sleeve B1 is the knife shaft C. This knife shaft projects forwardly in the space dened by the housing portion B2 and is therein provided with a pulley C1, held against rotation in relation to the shaft C. The rotary knife'C2 is secured to the `inner end of the shaft C, and it will be understood that the shaft, pulley andknife rotate as a unit. rEhe knife herein shown as circumferentially channeled or recessed, as at C3, on its rear face, and as at C4 on its front face, the knife being forwardly dished or concave, as shown for eX- ample in Figure 1. referably the knife shaft C is axially adjustable in relation to the sleeve portion B1.

Referring, for example, to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the base or frame portion A is provided with a depression or seat` including the generally cylindrical, depending, supporting portions D, which are separated as by the aperture D1. This seat is adapted to receive the generally cylindrical housing D2, of any suitable motor, which housing may be provided with a 8O slight projection D3 conforming generally to or penetrating the aperture D1. l)4 indicates a securing element of generally cylindrical or partly cylindrical form, which element may be secured in relation to the motor housing, as by the securing bolts D5 whichpass through apertures D6 in said element D4. It will be seen from Fig. i that by tightening the bolts D5 the member D4 maybe clamped against the exterior of the seat D and will thereby draw the motor down against their upper surfaces, thus firmly holding the motor in position. Any desired clearance of the parts may be provided, whereby an adjustment of the motor is made possible. The motor shaft D10 .carries the drive pulley D11, 95 and it will be understood vthat the size of the pulley is such that it may vpass through the aperture B4 in the partition B?, whereby the pulley D11 may be aligned with the pulley C1 on the knife shaft. The relative sise of the pulley D11 and the aperture B4 permits of ready withrawal of the pulley D11 through the aperture B4. When the device is in operation, a driving belt D12 rotates the pulley C1 in response to rotation of the motor. This drive is housed or protected as by the guarding partition B10, forwardly extended from the partition B3. If desired, an additionaland removable guard plate B11 may be employed, secured to the forward edges of the partition B10 as by the screws B12, 110

and penetrating the space between the knife and pulley. It may 'ce offset or forwardly expanded at B13 in order to provide space for the end of the motor shaft.

It will. be observed, as in Fig. 1 that the knife shaft or axis is so tilted as to throw the cutting edge of the knife, shown at the left of the knife in Fig. i, forwardly of the face of the knife. In order to protect the face of the krife and to leave exposed only the cutting edge, I provide a guard plate, generally indicated as plate includes an intermediate central portion E11, shown as in Figure 3 as somewhat convex, in order to conform to the contour of the cutting edge of the knife, which is made somewhat convex by the tilting of the knife axis. r`She guard plate E may be adjusted in relation to the frame of the device, and I illustrate as an example of s ch adjustment the abutment or abutments E1, which may be associated with the screwed member E2, which is screw-threaded into any suitable stud or enlargement E3, herein shown as formed on the 'partition E4 is a lock nut which may lock the parts in position when the abutment E1 is in the desired location.

The abutment or head El is screw-threaded to receive any suitable penetrating screw E5, mounted upon the plate E. Preferably I ernplcy the knurled, manually operable head E5 for the screw E5. In order to associate the screw E5 relatively permanently with the guard plate E, I may employ a split washer E3 positioned in the rear of the plate. In order to prevent rattling of the parts I may employ the washer E5, p' :ably of fibrous materia.

Figure 6 in cat-es the screw E5 and washer E3 permanently held in place upon the plate as by the split washer El. The washer may be sprung, shown in dotted lines, and may be screwthrcaded upon the screw E5, until it reaches the end of the thread and rests upon the reduced portion. It will thereupon by its own spring action return to its initial at form.

Figure 8 illustrates the screw E5 and washer permanently held in place by means ofv a Cotter pin E10. The abutment or head E1 may be recessed as at E5, to receive the cotter pin and to permit rotation of the Cotter and screw in relation to said head.

Referring to the carriage upon which the work to be sliced is mounted, I may employ any suitable work-supporting member, generally indicated as G, which includes the working carriage or support G1, herein shown as having generally horizontally extended surface. The carriage includes bearing elements or sleeves G2, adapted to engage the cylindrical track G3. A downwardly extending portion G4 engages an additional or guide track G5, herein shown as rectilinear in cross-section. G6 G6 are any suitable adjusting elements or screws. A pusher plate G7 may be associated with the carriage, such pusher plate having associated with it a manual handle G3 and the additional handle G9 sliding upon the pin G1o associated with the carriage. It will be observed, for example in Figs. l and 3, that the tracks G3 and G5 are spaced forwardly of the cutting plane and that the frame or base A is at that point provided with a trough G11, which includes the inner vertical side wall G12 and the outer and generally vertical side wall G13. While the shape of this trough and its walls maybe varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish it to be understood that it may have as a.' function not only to receive crumbs or bits of material, if any, which drop from the knife and from the edge of the carriage adjacent to the knife, but that it and its walls may also have a reinforcing function in connection with the structure of the base.

It will be observed, as in- Figure 2, that the forward portion of the frame or base, adjacent the cutting plane of the knife is formed, as at G23, closely to conform to the cutting arc of the knife. Preferably this portion G20 of the frame or base underlies or overlaps the plane of the knife edge, in such fashion as to serve as a guard for the lower edge or lower arc of the knife.

In connection with the operation of the device I provide a gauge plate, generally indicated as H, which may be mounted upon any suitable structure H1 with its rearward extension I-I2. H3 indicates a manually operable member, for example a knob, in response to the rotation of which, through any suitable power transmitting mechanism, the gauge plate H may be moved toward or away from the cutting plane. Preferably the gauge plate l-I lies in a plane generally parallel at all times with the plane of the guard plate E. Like the guard plate, it is slightly bowed fom its plane to confom to the contour of the cutting edge of the knife, this bowing being indicated as in Fig. 1.

Referring to the wiring for the motor and motor switch, J indicates the conductive line or lines extending to any suitable commercial power source. It penetrates the frame or base A of motor as at J1 and extends thence within the frame to the switch structure, generally indicated as J2, with its manually operable snap element J3. Thenoe it returns to penetrate upwardly through the bottom of the frame, as at J4, for conductive connection with the motor. J5 indicates a supporting or guiding element for the wires which is secured within the frame A as by the screws J5 J5. Preferably the member J5 is in the form of an angle, the angle being of such width as to approach the downward projection J7 from the bottom of the base or frame.

K generally indicates a removable housing for the motor. This housing, as shown for example in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, conforms generally to the cylindrical exterior of the motor housing proper, D2, and depends downwardly to cover the motor supporting elements D. The housing may be slotted as at K1 to receive the screw or pin K2 mounted upon the generally semi-circular flange K3 projecting from the partition B3. Said flange K3 furthermore serves as a seat for the housing K, which may be secured to the base, as by lio the screws K4 in the depending forward portion K5. f

M generally indicates a cover which may be secured upon the partition B3 as by the screwthreaded member M1 the details of which may be identical with the screw B5 previously dedevice, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I employ a slicing machine in which a rotary knife is rotated by a motor, the work to be sliced being moved across the cutting edge upon any suitable work support or carriage. Inasmuch as the knife and motor rotate at a high rate of rotation, I find it important to obtain a very accurate alignment of the motor and knife pulleys. This adjustment I obtain by mounting the motor housing adjustably upon the frame, in the manner above described. The motor housing may be rotated slightly upon the seat or supporting elements D. It may also be axially moved.

In order to provide a further protection for the motor in its adjusted position, I employ the removable housing element K, which may be seated and aligned upon the partition B3 and may be secured to the slicing machine frame, as by the screws K4.

The Work to be sliced is reciprocated across the face of the knife, as upon the carriage G. When slicing bread, for example, or any other substance which produces small fragments and crumbs, I nd it desirable to employ the crumbreceiving gutter or trough G11, which underlies the forward edge of the carriage. When crumbs gather therein they may easily be removed by the operator, and will not be scattered freely about the machine, as would be the case were some such gathering or receiving member not provided. The trough or gutter has the further advantage of forming, by its side walls, a strengthening member or reinforcement, a channel member in effect, for the base of the slicing machine.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a frame having a base, a seat for a motor formed in said base and including a plurality of adjacent stirrups conforming to the exterior of said motor, and a locking member adapted to engage the lower side of said stirru'psv and a removable connection between said locking member and said motor adapted to draw said locking member and motor into engagement with the opposite faces of said stirrups, the base being provided with an aperture adapted to give access to said locking member from beneath, and a slice receiving member adapted to mask said aperture when in operative position.

2. In a slicing machine, a base, a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a forward frame member for said base, extending in general parallelism with the cutting plane of the knife, said frame member including two parallel frame elements and a gutter member joining them, the gutter member extending forwardly ofthe cutting plane of the knife, said frame including corner portions at the opposite ends of said ,forward frame member, extending forwardly thereof, a track member secured to said corner portions and a carriage mounted for reciprocation on said track, the edge of the carriage adjacent the cutting plane of the knife overlying said trough whereby the latter will receive crumbs falling from said carriage as Well as from the knife.

3. In a slicing machine, a base, a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a forward frame member for said base, extending in general parallelism with the cutting plane of the knife, said frame member including two parallel frame elements ofv substantially greater generally vertical extension than their transverse thickness,l

and a gutter member joining said frame elements and extending therealong through a substantial proportion of the length of the slicing machine, said gutter member being adapted to` serve as a stiffening or reinforcement for saidf,

frame elements, said gutter member extending forwardly of the cutting plane of the knife, a manually operable carriage and means for guiding it across the face and past the cutting edge of the knife, including a guide track positioned above and outwardly beyond said gutter member, the edge of said carriage adjacent the cutting plane of the knife overlying said trough a substantial amount, whereby said trough receives particles falling from both the knife and the carriage.

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL. 

